Gang vibrator construction



Dec. 3, 1940. A, w. MALL GANG VIBRATOR CONSTRUCTION Dec. 3, 1940.

4A. w. MALL GANG VIBRATOR CONSTRUCTION Filed April 6, 1938 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 3, 1940. A. w. MALL GANG VIBRATOR CONSTRUCTION FiledApril 6, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 f fil. u I 4 f Dec. 3; 1940. A w, MALL2,223,733

GANG VIBRATOR CONSTRUCTION Fled April 6, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 54 /f/ by.z Alli l] 'il wx 56 @D i J 34 l 96 fav r /04 t "E 1 `i 1 i' i i! il i/07-/" I L. 0,2 if: i

Patented Dec. 3, 1940 PATENT OFFICE GANG VIBRAT'OR CONSTRUCTION ArthurWilliam Mall, Chicago, Ill. l Application Apn'l c, 1938, serial No.200,443

16 Claims.

My invention relates to gang vibrators and similar devices. y Myinvention relates more particularly to gang vibrators for compactingunset masses of concrete, particularly in places such as roads, highwaysand large concrete floors.

The principal Object of the present invention is to provide an improvedgang `vibrator capable of independent operation in association with roadbuilding machinery and capable of following the same and compactingunsetconcrete in volume and in an extremely rapid manner as the same isbeing poured- A further objectI of the present invention is to providean improved gang vibrator of the type described capable of operation `bya single operator and capable of manipulation to dip the gang vibrators`in and outl of the unset concrete at desired intervals as the same ismoved forward over the unset concrete.

f A furtherobject of the present invention is to provide an improvedgang vibrator of the class described furnished with a plurality ofindividual vibrator units adapted to -be driven by a single gasolineengine or other sourceof power.v

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved gangvibrator of the class described provided with a single gasoline engine,a single line drive shaft and a plurality of transmission yhousingsarranged `to have individual vibrator units suspended therefrom andcapable of immersion into the unset concrete to compact the same. i

A further object of the -invention is to provide lin combination withthe drive for the above mentioned group of individual vibrator units, animprovedv centrifugal clutch mechanism whereby the starting and stoppingof the same will have no deleterious effect upon the gasoline engine orother parts of the driving-mechanism.

Other objects and advantages will be more apparent from the followingdescription wherein reference is had to the accompanying four sheets ofdrawings, upon which Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of my improved'Igang vibrator shown mounted upon the side rails of a road underconstruction;

IFig. 2 is a plan'view of the same;

Fig. 3 'is a side elevationarviewtnereof with the vibrators immersed inthe unset concrete;

Figi is' 'a side .view similar to Fig. 3 with the parts shown in lachanged or raised position;

"Fig. 5, isy a cross sectional view through the `'drive'.shaft .of theengine and centrifugal clutch (Cl. EF1-48) mechanism, taken generally onthe line 5--5 of Fig.2;

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view through the clutch mechanism taken onthe 'line 6-6 of Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view through one type ofvibrator unit employed in connection with my improved gangvibrator takengenerally on the line 'I-l of 'Figli 4. and i 4 Fig. 8 is a verticalsectional view through the A10 transmission housing and upper end of theflexible shaft housingof the vibrator taken generally on the line 8-8ofcFigfl.

In the embodiment of the invention which I have chosen to illustrateIhave shown my im- .l proved gang vibrator constructed of'a channelmember frame having the inwardly turned side channel members I6 and I2and the front'and rear channel members I4 and I6 respectively. I providea second channel member I8 adjacentl20 and parallel to the rear channelmember I6 to provide a place and to Aafford a support for the gasolineengine VE which furnishes the power` to .drive the series ofvibratorunits.

The framev may be` supported adjacent andh25 generally below the channelmember vlI8 by a pair of wheels 20 .and A22 that ride upon the siderails 24 and 26 -of ,the road under construction. The wheels 23 and22fiare mountedvupon the horizontal axle 28 whichis rigidly secured totheI'3`0 frame of the lunit .by bearing members 30. I provide ahorizontal line shaft 32 supported adjacent the front frame member I4and provided with a plurality,oftransmission housings 34. Power from theengine-E may be trans- '35 mitted to the line `shaft 32 by means oftheV- belts 36 which are trained about the drive pulley 3B mounted onthe engine; shaftA 40'and the driven pulley 42 mounted on the line shaft32.

Iprovide a pair of brackets 44 mounted on the 40 kside frames I0 and I2adjacent the forward end of the machine. The brackets 44 may beformed attheir lower end with arcuately shaped elongated openings 46 toirecveivethe .axles 48 of a pair of wheels 50. The, axle 48 may `be carried\45 ina pair of sliding brackets 52 normally held in a downwardly disposedposition by the compression spring members-54 which surround a guide rod56 that extendsthrough an opening 58 in the brackets 44.V A p air offoot levers 60150 are secured at opposite-ends of `the framebelow thefront frame member I4 and thus when desired, by stepping upon 7thelsame,the entire frame mayV be pivotallyfvtilted .upv and .down as shown inFigs. `3 and 4, .the downward motion be- I 55 ing effected by manualpressure upon the levers 60 and the upward motion being derived from thecompression spring members 54. Thus the spring members tilt the forwardend of the frame upward thereby supporting the vibrating meinbers in anormally inoperative position relative to the concrete mass. Downwardmanual pressure on the foot lever 60 brings the vibrating members intooperative contact with the con crete mass.

The centrifugal vclutch which I have previously mentioned and which isadapted to be connected to the drive shaft 48 of the engine may includea pair of pivotally mounted clutch shoes 84 and 66 mounted upon thepivot pins 68 and 'lil respectively. The shoes are normally held fromcontact against the friction liningl Iby the` compression springs 'I4and 16,. Thus as jshownjy in Fig. 6, the shaft 40' of the engine iskeyedto the clutch hub 18 which carries the clutch shoes 64 and 66 upon the-pivot pinsu 68 and 'IILk When lthe speed of the drive shaft of theengine reaches vaisumcient or required R. P. the spring'mem- ,bers i6and I4 are overcome and by means of the friction lining 12 the drivepulley 38 is revolved. The drive pulley 42, as previously described, mayberigidly connected to the line shaft32 and in each of the transmissionhousings 34 have a worm wheel 86 keyed thereto.V The worm wheel 18Drnaymesh with a bevel gear type of worm 82 .which isdriven thereby. vThegear 82 is formed with a reducedhubv portiony 84, and is supported in asuitable ball bearing 86 secured in a downwardly projecting chamber 88of the housing 34. A screw-threaded locking member 98 and a lock nut.92'. securely hold' the parts in the position shown- The. lower. end 84of the hub 84 may be screw threaded and engage in the upper tappedopening 96 of a tubular stub shaft 98. The stub vshaft 98 may bedirected downwardly in the bore IIlIl of; the lock member 90. Aflexibleshaft |62 is providedwith a screw threaded upper tip mem,- ber'1I-il4lwhich is in screw threaded engagement with the tapped. opening II16inthe lower end of the tubular shaft 98. vTher flexible shaft I62 isgenerally contained in the flexible housing |85 that is provided withthe collar ID'I .which rigidly connects at its upper end with the lockmember :58. VSince the flexible shaft which I employ may 'be of any wollknown desirabley type at present onfthe market, the same will not-bedescribed in any further detail. As shown in Fig. 7 the vibrator unitswhich I employ 'are generallyprovided with a cylindri- Ycal casing I|J8which-hasan'upper end I IU screw-v threadedly connected thereto. Thelower end of the exible shaft housing |65 is' adapted to be Vrigidlysecured to the upper end of the vibrator unit and enclose the flexibleshaft I82 which extends downwardly intothe casing |88 and'by meansffofthe tip II2 is in driving engagement `with an olf-balance vweight II4mounted in the casingand provided -at the upper and lower ends ofthe-same with the bearings I I6 and H8. The vibrator which I employ maybe of any suitable or desirable type at present on the market and ispreferably of the type shown anddescribed in my pending application,Serial No. 200,444,` and in my- Patent No. 2,073,393.

From the above and foregoing description it will be apparent to thoseskilled inthe art. that I have provided a vibrating machine for internalvibration of unsetconcrete particularly adapted for use ein road'construztiomV l I have provided ay pluralityl of aligned vibratorsmounted at the forward end of a framework so arranged that the source ofpower for the vibrators acts as a counter-weight for the entire frameand provides in effect a floating front end. This is desirable so that asingle operator can raise or lower the forward end of the machine wherethe vibrators are located, thus permitting the vibratorsy l to belowered and raised into and out of the unset concrete as desired. I alsoprovide a remote control yIZil for the engine, so that the `control ofthe engine may be effected from a'point adjacent thefront ofthe machine,and thus it can be seen that a single operator can move the mechanismback and forth upon the rails of the road, operate the gang of vibratorsand have absolute control over the speed at which the engine is running.

I have found by experience that a preferable speed at which to vibrateunset concrete in road building is approximately 7000 R. P. M. This,however, may b e increased or decreased according to the type of.materials employed and the other surrounding conditions. In thepreferred form rof my invention Ihave employed a 4- cylinder, :12 to'1.6horsepowerlgasoline engine, as I have found this sumcient for a gangoffrom .5 to 9 vibrators. g

While I have illustrated anddescribed a specific embodiment of myinvention,'it will v,be apparent t0 those skilled in the,xart that.'changes and modifications can -be.made in. the exactdetails shown andIdo not wish tov be limited. inA any particular; rather what I vdesireto.` secure vand protect by LettersfPatent oftheUnited States'is:

1. A gang vibrator.. adapted to ride upona pair of parallel railscomprisinga frame',.an axle supporting said frame, -a pair'of ywheelsupon opposite ends ofsaid'axle engaging said' rails, a

resilient support at the forward end of said frame engaging said rails,a motor mounted on said frame adjacent one side thereof, av horizontaldriveshaft in said frame adjacent the other side thereof, a drivingconnection between said motor and said driveshaft and 'af plurality ofaligned vertically suspendedvibrator units driven from saidlineshaft,said driving connection having a centrifugal clutch therein whereby saidvibra--v tors are only operatedv over a pre-determined speedv of saidmotor. f.

2. A gang vibrator adapted to ride upon a pair of 4parallel railscomprising., a frame; an axle supporting said frame, a pair of'` wheelsupon op.- posite ends of said axle engaging said rails,A a resilientsupport lat the forward. end of said frame engaging said rails, amotormounted .on said frame adjacent one sidethereof, a horizontaldriveshaft in saidframe adjacent` theother side thereof, andrivingconnection between said motor and said driveshaft and a plurality ofaligned vertically suspended vibrator unitsvdriven from `saidlineshaft,said driving` connection having a centrifugal clutchthereinwhereby said *Vibratorsv said axle, a' horizontal lineshaft mountedbetween the ends of said frame adjacen-ttheI other side thereof, -adriving connectionbetweensaid `motor and said driveshaft, a plurality ofvibrator units toV vertically suspended in.a-.'linev belowsaiddriveshaft and in drivingA connectionztherewithp and apairofryvertically :positioned Wheel members in closeiproximity:toa'said-vibrator-units adapted to ride onsaid railsfzandvresilientlyconnected. to

said frame so as to support the same for yielding up and downmovementunderl manual operation.

L 4; Apparatus of the class described capable of being supported .upon'apair. of vspaced rails including a generally rectangular frame member,an axle supporting one side of said frame member,

a pairfof wheels onfsaid axleradaptedtto rideon said rails, amotor-mounted or'rsaidA frame near said axle, al horizontal lineshaftmounted between the ends'of saidiframe adjacentthe other side thereof,vadriving connection between said motor and said driveshaft, apluralityof 'vibrator units vertically suspended in a line below said driveshaftandin driving connection therewith, and a pair of vertically positionedwheel members in close proximity to said vibrator units adapted to rideon said rails and resiliently connected to said frame so as toyieldingly support the same, and handle means on said frame for manuallytransmitting to said frame an up and down movement. 5. Apparatus of theclass described capable of being supported upon a pair of spaced railsincluding a generally rectangular frame member, an axle supporting oneside of said frame member, a pair of wheels on said axle adapted to rideon said rails, a motor mounted on said frame near said axle, ahorizontal lineshaft mounted between the ends of said frame adjacent theother side thereof, a driving connection between said motor `and saiddriveshaft, a plurality of vibrator units vertically suspended in a linebelow said driveshaft and in driving connection therewith,

and means associated with said frame in close proximity to said vibratorunits capable of trans- 40 mitting to said frame an up and downmovement, said means including vertically positioned coil vspringsforming part of means supporting the said other side of the frame andfoot levers secured to said other side of the frame.

45 6. Apparatus of the class described capable of being supported upon apair of spaced rails including a generally rectangular frame member, anaxle supporting one side of said frame mem- 'ber, a pair of wheels onsaid axle adapted to ride 50 on said rails, a motor mounted on saidframe near said axle, a horizontal lineshat mounted between the ends ofsaid frame adjacent the other side thereof, a driving connection betweensaid motor and said driveshaft, said connection in- 55 cluding acentrifugal clutch, a plurality of vibrator units vertically suspendedin a line below said driveshaft and in driving connection therewith, anda pair of wheel members in close proximity to said vibrator unitsadapted to ride onsaid rails 60 and resiliently supporting said framefor yielding up and down movement under manual operation.

7. Apparatus of the class described capable of being supported upon apair of spaced rails in- 65 cluding a generally rectangular framemember,

an axle supporting one side of said frame member, a pair of wheels onsaid axle adapted to ride on said rails, a motor mounted on said framenear said axle, a horizontal lineshaft mounted 70 between the ends ofsaid frame adjacent the other side thereof, a driving connection betweensaid motor and said driveshaft, a plurality of vibrator units verticallysuspended in a line below said driveshaft and in driving connectiontherewith, a

75 pair of wheel members in close proximity to said vibrator unitsadapted to ride on said rails, spring means for raising said wheels fromsaid rails. in a rocking motion and said engine so .located as to act asa counterbalance for said rockingmotion.

y8..A vibrating apparatus for compactingconcrete masses of substantial.area comprising a .frame adapted to ride upon forms containing theconcrete, a power unit mounted at one side of the frame, a horizontalline shaft mounted at the other side, a plurality of vibratory memberscarried by the frame, 'operativelyconnected to the line lshaft andadapted to be driven thereby, a pair of vertically positioned wheelmembers resiliently supporting the frame and adapted to ride upon theforms whereby upand down movement of the frame by manual operation maybe obtained.

9. A vibrating apparatus for compacting concrete masses. of substantialarea comprising a frame adapted to ride upon forms containing theconcrete, a power unit mounted at one side of the frame, a horizontalline shaft mounted at th-e other side, a plurality of vibratory memberscarried by the frame, operatively connected to the lineshaft and adaptedto be driven thereby, and means resiliently supporting said framecapable of transmitting an up and down movement to said frame, saidmeans including a coil spring forming part of means supporting saidframe and a foot lever carried by said fram-e.

10. A vibrating device for compacting concrete masses of substantialarea comprising a frame having supporting members adapted to ride uponforms containing the concrete, Ia power unit mounted on said frame, aplurality of vibrating members 'carried by said frame and operativelyconnected to said power unit, means associated with said frame foryieldably supporting the vibrating members in a normally inoperativeposition relative to the concrete mass, said means Iincluding a springoperatively interposed between the frame and the said supportingmembers.

11. A vibrating device for compacting concrete masses of substantialarea comprising a frame having supporting members adapted to ride uponforms containing the concrete, a power unit mounted on said frame, aplurality of vibrating members carried by said frame and operativelyconnected to said power unit, means associated with said frame foryield-ably supporting the vibrating members in a normally inoperativeposiltion relative to the concrete mass,` said means including a springoperatively interposed between the frame and the said supportingmembers, whereby the frame is supported in a yielding extended positionwith relation to the supporting members.

12. A vibrating device for compacting concrete masses of substantialarea comprising a frame having supporting members adapted to ride uponforms containing the concrete, a power unit mounted on said frame, aplurality of vibrating members carried by said frame and operativelyconnected to said power unit, means associated with said frame foryieldably supporting the vibrating members in a normally inoperativeposition relative to the concrete mass, said means including a springoperatively interposed between the frame and the said supportingmembers, and means for overcoming the yielding resistance of the springwhereby the vibrating members are brought into operative contact withthe concrete mass.

13. An apparatus as defined by claim 10 wherein the power'unit ispositioned on the frame so asV to provide a counterbalancing Weight,said weight cooperating with the springin maintaining the vibratingmembers ina normallyinoperative position. i y f r 14. A vibratingdevice; for compacting concrete masses of substantial area comprisingaframe having supportingimembers adapted to ride upon forms containingthe concrete, a` powerrunit mounted on said frame, a plurality ofvibrating members carried by said frame and operatively connected tosaid power unit, and means associated with the .frame lforyieldably'supporting the vibrating members in a normally inoperativeposition relative to .the concrete mass.

15. Avibrating device yfor compacting concrete comprising a supportingmember having a power unit associated therewith, a vibratory mechanismalso associated with the supporting member and adapted to be. forciblyimmersed into the concrete, and-means normally opposing the forcibleimmersion of thevibratory mechanism andtending to leirect Withdrawal ofvsaid vibratory mechf anismiout of thevconcrete, and said'wthdrawal beingeffected by said opposing means upon releasecf the immersive force. Y

16. A vibrating device for compactingr concrete comprising' a..supporting member, a Vibratory mechanism associated with the-supportingmemmechanism out of theconcrete, said Withdrawal y being elected by saidopposing means Hupon release of .the immersive force. l t

ARTHUR MALL.

